1981 VFL Season
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The 1981 VFL season was the 85th season of the
Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...
(VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 28 March until 26 September, and comprised a 22-game home-and-away season followed by a finals series featuring the top five clubs. The premiership was won by the
Carlton Football Club The Carlton Football Club, nicknamed the Blues, is a professional Australian rules football club that competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's top professional competition. Founded in 1864 in Carlton, an inner suburb of Me ...
for the 13th time, after it defeated by 20 points in the 1981 VFL Grand Final.


Night series

defeated 9.11 (65) to 6.5 (41) in the final.


Premiership season


Round 1

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.19 (145) , , 12.25 (97) , Arden Street Oval , 19,437 , 28 March 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.12 (108) , , 23.19 (157) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 19,101 , 28 March 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.16 (112) , , 23.15 (153) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 32,202 , 28 March 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.17 (77) , , 10.11 (71) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 37,303 , 28 March 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 20.13 (133) , , 22.27 (159) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 27,200 , 28 March 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 22.12 (144) , , 12.10 (82) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 56,372 , 28 March 1981


Round 2

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.15 (111) , , 15.9 (99) , Windy Hill , 26,443 , 4 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 26.22 (178) , , 13.6 (84) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 26,512 , 4 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.14 (110) , , 22.13 (145) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 17,850 , 4 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.23 (107) , , 16.13 (109) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 24,496 , 4 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.11 (107) , , 17.21 (123) , Princes Park , 31,660 , 4 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 23.17 (155) , , 16.14 (110) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 20,107 , 4 April 1981


Round 3

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.11 (119) , , 18.12 (120) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 13,256 , 11 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.24 (108) , , 12.20 (92) , Princes Park , 24,780 , 11 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.26 (116) , , 14.5 (89) , Arden Street Oval , 17,744 , 11 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.16 (118) , , 16.18 (114) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 61,908 , 11 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 19.21 (135) , , 23.19 (157) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 33,882 , 11 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.13 (139) , , 18.9 (117) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 21,977 , 11 April 1981


Round 4

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.16 (76) , , 16.32 (128) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 36,488 , 18 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 25.19 (169) , , 14.16 (100) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 15,635 , 18 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.17 (95) , , 17.22 (124) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 48,526 , 18 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.13 (79) , , 13.16 (94) , Windy Hill , 29,597 , 20 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 9.14 (68) , , 11.10 (76) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 42,395 , 20 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.10 (76) , , 15.14 (104) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 27,299 , 20 April 1981


Round 5

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.16 (118) , , 11.17 (83) , Princes Park , 16,106 , 25 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.20 (146) , , 13.5 (83) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 30,096 , 25 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.22 (112) , , 11.18 (84) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 46,230 , 25 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.22 (130) , , 9.14 (68) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 12,545 , 25 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.13 (73) , , 19.23 (137) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 32,341 , 25 April 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.14 (104) , , 19.11 (125) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 33,465 , 25 April 1981


Round 6


Round 7

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.14 (92) , , 12.16 (88) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 12,997 , 9 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.17 (101) , , 11.10 (76) , Windy Hill , 16,828 , 9 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.15 (123) , , 7.16 (58) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 20,553 , 9 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.8 (56) , , 7.17 (59) , Princes Park , 13,275 , 9 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.8 (56) , , 12.24 (96) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 22,020 , 9 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.16 (118) , , 7.12 (54) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 10,989 , 9 May 1981


Round 8

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.16 (64) , , 25.18 (168) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 16,860 , 16 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.25 (127) , , 12.11 (83) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 12,808 , 16 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 25.17 (167) , , 17.15 (117) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 21,721 , 16 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.18 (144) , , 16.19 (115) , Princes Park , 17,459 , 16 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.8 (80) , , 12.13 (85) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 28,396 , 16 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.3 (87) , , 21.18 (144) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 79,326 , 16 May 1981


Round 9

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.14 (74) , , 11.18 (84) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 13,789 , 23 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.15 (93) , , 16.18 (114) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 15,604 , 23 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 25.22 (172) , , 11.7 (73) , Princes Park , 22,445 , 23 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.10 (70) , , 14.20 (104) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 31,769 , 23 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.26 (98) , , 16.15 (111) , Arden Street Oval , 24,625 , 23 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 20.16 (136) , , 15.15 (105) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 40,240 , 23 May 1981


Round 10

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.17 (95) , , 11.14 (80) , Princes Park , 14,961 , 30 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.8 (92) , , 10.10 (70) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 19,760 , 30 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 22.15 (147) , , 10.10 (70) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 11,630 , 30 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.10 (112) , , 8.9 (57) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 37,177 , 30 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.13 (79) , , 6.8 (44) , Windy Hill , 30,574 , 30 May 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.7 (43) , , 25.22 (172) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 17,015 , 30 May 1981


Round 11

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 20.16 (136) , , 14.10 (94) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 31,025 , 6 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.15 (99) , , 7.17 (59) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 21,672 , 6 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.13 (115) , , 11.18 (84) , Princes Park , 31,808 , 6 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.19 (127) , , 12.9 (81) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 92,935 , 8 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.10 (82) , , 17.15 (117) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 24,974 , 8 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.8 (80) , , 15.18 (108) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 28,588 , 8 June 1981


Round 12

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 19.21 (135) , , 4.11 (35) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 22,154 , 13 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.13 (139) , , 14.16 (100) , Princes Park , 27,000 , 13 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.12 (90) , , 17.32 (134) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 17,691 , 13 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.12 (90) , , 18.29 (137) , Arden Street Oval , 22,526 , 13 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.15 (93) , , 14.14 (98) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 20,903 , 13 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 19.12 (126) , , 16.15 (111) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 24,588 , 13 June 1981


Round 13

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 20.18 (138) , , 15.16 (106) , Princes Park , 11,657 , 20 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 26.14 (170) , , 8.8 (56) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 27,395 , 20 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.22 (94) , , 13.12 (90) , Windy Hill , 30,718 , 20 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 19.14 (128) , , 10.11 (71) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 23,669 , 20 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 20.11 (131) , , 15.16 (106) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 18,455 , 20 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.10 (94) , , 19.11 (125) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 15,599 , 20 June 1981


Round 14

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.25 (115) , , 5.4 (34) , Princes Park , 17,419 , 27 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.23 (149) , , 15.16 (106) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 31,212 , 27 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.19 (127) , , 8.7 (55) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 14,058 , 27 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 9.16 (70) , , 14.9 (93) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 11,756 , 27 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 13.8 (86) , , 9.14 (68) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 50,441 , 27 June 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 20.13 (133) , , 22.19 (151) ,
The Gabba The Brisbane Cricket Ground, commonly known as the Gabba, is a major sports stadium in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia. The nickname Gabba derives from the suburb of Woolloongabba, in which it is located. Over the years, the Ga ...
, 20,351 , 28 June 1981


Round 15

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.13 (55) , , 16.19 (115) , Arden Street Oval , 8,160 , 4 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.13 (61) , , 11.14 (80) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 18,374 , 4 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.14 (50) , , 5.5 (35) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 21,579 , 4 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.10 (82) , , 8.4 (52) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 26,635 , 11 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 7.9 (51) , , 17.12 (114) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 10,478 , 11 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.6 (66) , , 12.16 (88) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 30,803 , 11 July 1981


Round 16

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.14 (86) , , 20.11 (131) , Princes Park , 19,519 , 18 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 22.21 (153) , , 8.12 (60) , Windy Hill , 21,588 , 18 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 22.19 (151) , , 16.4 (100) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 13,297 , 18 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.7 (79) , , 22.35 (167) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 21,947 , 18 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.11 (77) , , 10.16 (76) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 30,708 , 18 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.13 (121) , , 12.15 (87) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 17,713 , 18 July 1981


Round 17

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.11 (71) , , 8.9 (57) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 24,750 , 25 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.8 (116) , , 19.11 (125) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 14,755 , 25 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 23.15 (153) , , 15.10 (100) , Princes Park , 15,198 , 25 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.19 (115) , , 17.14 (116) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 37,589 , 25 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.4 (76) , , 12.21 (93) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 23,126 , 25 July 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.13 (121) , , 15.13 (103) , SCG , 22,238 , 26 July 1981


Round 18

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 16.21 (117) , , 12.13 (85) , Arden Street Oval , 11,517 , 1 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.14 (86) , , 17.13 (115) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 13,886 , 1 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.13 (73) , , 7.19 (61) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 16,013 , 1 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 17.13 (115) , , 12.10 (82) , Princes Park , 31,507 , 1 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 9.15 (69) , , 15.13 (103) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 19,725 , 1 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.16 (88) , , 9.15 (69) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 64,149 , 2 August 1981


Round 19

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.20 (104) , , 9.6 (60) , Windy Hill , 15,411 , 8 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.19 (103) , , 11.13 (79) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 21,237 , 8 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 9.11 (65) , , 10.11 (71) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 15,943 , 8 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.21 (111) , , 13.12 (90) , Princes Park , 8,058 , 8 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.19 (85) , , 9.16 (70) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 25,565 , 8 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.14 (62) , , 13.7 (85) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 24,287 , 9 August 1981


Round 20

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.8 (98) , , 14.15 (99) , Princes Park , 36,736 , 15 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 21.19 (145) , , 13.9 (87) , Arden Street Oval , 7,749 , 15 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.14 (86) , , 21.13 (139) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 11,489 , 15 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.14 (86) , , 22.15 (147) ,
Western Oval Whitten Oval (also known as Victoria University Whitten Oval under a naming rights agreement) is a stadium in the inner-western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, located in Barkly Street, West Footscray. It is the training and administ ...
, 11,770 , 15 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 11.20 (86) , , 14.7 (91) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 69,217 , 15 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 9.14 (68) , , 10.17 (77) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 20,863 , 15 August 1981


Round 21

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.9 (99) , , 17.14 (116) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 19,567 , 22 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 14.18 (102) , , 9.10 (64) ,
Junction Oval Junction Oval (also known as the St Kilda Cricket Ground, or the CitiPower Centre due to sponsorship reasons) is a historic sports ground in the suburb of St Kilda in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The oval's location near the St Kilda Jun ...
, 12,130 , 22 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 26.23 (179) , , 10.8 (68) , Windy Hill , 18,773 , 22 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 22.17 (149) , , 11.10 (76) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 26,680 , 22 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 18.20 (128) , , 8.11 (59) ,
Kardinia Park Kardinia Park is a major public park located in South Geelong, Victoria. A number of public and sporting facilities are located in the park: a major AFL stadium, a secondary football oval, a cricket field, an open air swimming pool, a numb ...
, 17,573 , 22 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 8.14 (62) , , 12.12 (84) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 25,544 , 22 August 1981


Round 22

, - style="background:#ccf;" , Home team , Home team score , Away team , Away team score , Venue , Crowd , Date , - style="background:#fff;" , , 15.20 (110) , , 8.9 (57) , Princes Park , 7,912 , 29 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 4.9 (33) , , 8.11 (59) ,
Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...
, 32,393 , 29 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 10.14 (74) , , 15.17 (107) ,
Lake Oval Lakeside Stadium is an Australian sports arena in the South Melbourne suburb of Albert Park. Comprising an athletics track and soccer stadium, it currently serves as the home ground and administrative base for association football club Sout ...
, 8,484 , 29 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 12.15 (87) , , 5.8 (38) ,
Moorabbin Oval Moorabbin Oval (also known as RSEA Park under a naming rights agreement) is an Australian rules football ground in the city of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at Linton Street in the suburb of Moorabbin. The ground was most notable as the home ...
, 11,948 , 29 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 5.10 (40) , , 9.13 (67) ,
MCG The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), also known locally as "The 'G", is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne, Victoria. Founded and managed by the Melbourne Cricket Club, it is the largest stadium in the Southern Hem ...
, 64,207 , 29 August 1981 , - style="background:#fff;" , , 6.11 (47) , , 7.13 (55) ,
VFL Park Waverley Park (also and originally called VFL Park) was an Australian rules football stadium in Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. For most of its history, its purpose was as a neutral venue and used by all Victorian-based Victorian Football Le ...
, 75,221 , 29 August 1981


Ladder


Finals


Week One


Week Two


Week three


Week four


See also

*
McIntyre "Final Five" system The McIntyre System, or systems as there have been five of them, is a playoff system that gives an advantage to teams or competitors qualifying higher. The systems were developed by Ken McIntyre, an Australian lawyer, historian and English lect ...


Notes

* The leading goalkicker was
Michael Roach Michael Roach (born December 17, 1952) is an American businessman, spiritual leader, and former Buddhist monk and scholar who has started a number of businesses and organizations, written books inspired by Buddhism, and translated Tibetan Buddhis ...
of
Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...
with 86 goals * The
Brownlow Medal The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal (and informally as "Charlie"), is awarded to the "best and fairest" player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by t ...
was shared by
Bernie Quinlan Bernard Francis Quinlan (born 21 July 1951) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Footscray Football Club and Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). One of a handful of players to have won a Brownl ...
and
Barry Round Barry James Round (26 January 1950 – 24 December 2022) was an Australian rules footballer. He played for and South Melbourne/Sydney in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1969 and 1985. He played 328 games (135 for Footscray and 19 ...
* The reserves premiership was won by for the second consecutive season. Geelong 21.14 (140) defeated 18.6 (114) in the grand final, held as a curtain-raiser to the seniors grand final on 26 September.


Notable events

*In the 1980/81 offseason, the
East Perth Football Club The East Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Royals, is an Australian rules football club based in Leederville, Western Australia, current playing in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). Formed in 1902 as the Union Football Club, the clu ...
from the
West Australian Football League The West Australian Football League (WAFL) is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The league currently consists of ten teams, which play each other in a 20-round season usually lasting from March to September ...
made a unilateral bid to join the VFL, potentially as early as 1983. East Perth's vision was for two WAFL clubs to join the league, as part of a transition to a national competition, and to limit the drain of talent from and provide an opportunity to play the highest level of football in Western Australia. The application was rejected. * A protest by Richmond against the eligibility of defender Doug Cox to play for St. Kilda led to the Saints temporarily losing the points for their first two wins after Round 8. They were reinstated after Round 17 due to changes in the relevant rules, but a fine of $5000 remained. *On 27 May, was fined $20,000 for poaching Stephen Allender from . Although Allender lived in South Melbourne's
zone Zone or The Zone may refer to: Places Climate and altitude zones * Death zone (originally the lethal zone), altitudes above a certain point where the amount of oxygen is insufficient to sustain human life for an extended time span * Frigid zone, ...
and was playing for VFA club
Port Melbourne Port Melbourne is an inner-city List of Melbourne suburbs, suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, south-west of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the Cities of ...
when recruited, he was residentially tied to and would remain as such until November 1983, because he had lived in Carlton's zone until February 1979. Carlton ended up granting him a clearance to South Melbourne, but South Melbourne was deemed to have broken the league's poaching laws by having "negotiated with an agent acting for a Carlton player". * In Round 11, Kevin Bartlett became the first to play 350 VFL games, after having broken John Rantall's record for most games played during 1980. *
Malcolm Blight Malcolm Jack Blight AM (born 16 February 1950) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for and coached the North Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and Woodville Football Club in the South Australian Nati ...
(North Melbourne) and Alex Jesaulenko (St Kilda) became the final ever playing coaches in VFL/AFL history. Jesaulenko retired as player after Round 8, becoming the last captain-coach; Blight was sacked as coach after Round 16, making him the last person ever to be a playing coach of a club. (Blight was not captain during his time as playing coach.) Playing coaches have since been prohibited under salary cap regulations instituted in 1987. *The State Government granted the VFL once-off permission to trial two Sunday matches in Victoria during the season; it was the first time the VFL had been granted this permission since the once-off Sunday match in 1970 which coincided with a royal visit. Under the conditions of the trial, alcohol was not allowed to be sold at or brought to the games, and the games could not be televised. The two matches were vs in Round 18, and vs in Round 19. *On 7 August, the VFL's entire senior umpiring panel resigned over a contract dispute, due to the VFL's refusal to commit to negotiating a collective agreement with the Umpires' Association, rather than individual agreements with each umpire. The VFL hastily arranged for Round 19's matches to be umpired by a team of junior umpires, all aged between 18 and 22, from the state's minor leagues; both the junior umpires' association and the VFL umpires' association gave their approval for the juniors to serve as strikebreakers. The dispute was resolved the following week, and the senior umpires returned for Round 20. * In Round 22, South Melbourne played its last senior VFL match at the Lake Oval (also known then as Lakeside Oval). The team relocated to Sydney in 1982 and eventually became known as the Sydney Swans.


References


Bibliography

* Stephen Rogers and Ashley Brown (1998). ''Every Game Ever Played''. 6th ed. Victoria: Penguin Books.


External Links


1981 VFL season scores
at AFL Tables {{Australian Football League Australian Football League seasons
VFL season The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...